Game apparatus



y 1 l. H. wiLsEY 2,250,690

- GAME APPARATUS Filed July, 31, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 29, 1941.

l. H. WILSEY GAME APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1941- l. H. WlLSEY 2,250,690

GAME APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 29, 1941 GAME APPARATUS Irven H. Wilsey. C m

lipplication July 31, 1939, 14 Claims. (Cl.

My invention belongs to games or amusement cularly to a game or skill simuthe like, in which one The present invention relates more particularly to apparatus for resetting-or replacing the pins or targets to direct hit by the their being struck by another target duction of a device of the kind described that is simple, inexpensive, efllcient, durable, reliable and convenient for use in various games to which it may be applicable.

A further object of the invention is an apparatus which will permit the displacing of the targets when struck, but. is operative for resetting or setting up the displaced targets as desired without requiring the manual handling of individual pins. It also has as an object the production of such a device in which the setting at the proper predetermined point on the game board or alley.

A further object is the production of apparatus of the kind described in which the targets and pins are maintained in their proper positions for play until hit effecting complete displacement will hold them until it is desired to reset them, at it then simultaneously replace or ach target in its proper place.

A further object is the production '0! anapparatus of the kind described mechanism may be readily applied since the apparatus is adapted for being equip ed with auxiliary mechanism for indicating hits, recording scores or accumulated scores, or for other accessories.

The invention has as a furtherobject a setting apparatus for use on a board provided with predetermined paths of travel for the targets when hit, the preferred construction, as shown in the the provision of from the spotted away from the embodiment illustrated, being a slot position of I normal set up position of the plurality of arms, one for each target, arranged below the board or alley and flexibly connected to the targets through the slots, means being playing position after they have targets, with a a Serial No. 281.540

provided to control the movements oi the arms at desired times. 1

Many other objects and advantages oi the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilledin the, art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination oi parts herein shown and described, and more particularly polnted'out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reierence 'ch'arlike or corresponding parts:v top plan view of a game board Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on line'2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is aplan sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a showing the position of one of the targets which has been displaced and which is to be reset;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same illustrating the target set in position with the mechanism in position during the resetting operation prior to the retrieving of the arms to the positions showninFig.2;

Fig. 6 is a perspe tive view showing a target and one of the latch devices illustrating the method of retaining oi the mechanism or target in the position shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a simple circuit for controlling the operation of the resetting mechanism.

In the embodiment of i represents a game the invention shown, board provided with marginal walls 2' and an end wall 4, 3 representing 1 the board and supported a plate of glass covering by the marginal walls. There is also provided .bottom partition 5 and an end wall 1 which is preferably removable. The board described may be supported on shown), or in any other suitable manner. game board shown which alley of the usual type, only regulation bowling alley, is' provided with an alley 8' at the end and an alley 9 at one or both sides, as the case maybe, the alleys being so inclined that a ball or missile dropping into the alley 8 or into the alley 9 will projector ill. The projector I0 is not shown in detail as any type or projector may be employed. It may be mentioned, however, that I have shown a portion of a projector in the subject mattero! a cope not be described The simulates a bowling ding case and need herein in detail.

view similar to a portion of Fig. 2,

legs 6 (see Fig. 2, only one being I of less size than the roll back tothe Fig. l which forms.

For targets I provide one or more members, ten being shown, formed of two parts 99 and II secured togethe which simulate bowling pins, these being identiby bolts 82, so that the length of fled by the numbers I l to 20, inclusive. when bar may be adjusted. The end of the link any one or more of the targets are struck by a Dosite 41 is pivotally secured at ll missile they are thrown out of position and follow 69 suitably secured at I! to a bracket on a predetermined path to a point outside of their base plate I. A can roller .9 is secured to the ordinarily spotted position, as will be more fully arm arranged to cooperate with the cam 19 described hereinafter. mounted on shaft H. There is provided a mo- Arranged below the board I are a plurality tor 13 and reduction gear box 14 to of arms in the form 01' rods 2| to 30, inclusive. provide a drive for the shaft 1 I, the cam control its respective target, preferably by means of a several arms connected with the targets to be sp ing 32 and a short linked chain 33, so that s moved to set positiomand thereai ter retrieve each of the pins and its respective a m i h the same to retracted position shown in Figs. 2 yieldably and flexibly connected to its respective and 3, arm. The arms are each provided with a sprin Any sort or electrical circuit and switches may 35 having one end secured to a plate 3| and the b l d for vi t desired whom other end to an offset 34 in the arm, the tendency Th r i h w cm mb is mounted on of the sp n 35 being to move an arm when the shaft H which is arranged to control, by its respective target is struck to carry the target an of its cam face 11, a switch 18, making out of its spotted position. contact withthe contact member-19. There is A most clearly shown in Fig. a l ll 15 also provided a switch 99 which maybe manipu-' provided for each target, the same extending iated i any t bl manner, simple pu h respective slot extends. When the targets are r zi t 39 inclusive, In t drawing, p 3. all set in their sp t e Po i n f r pl y they are only one switch is shown and this in connection releasably anchored or held in this spot by the with ar 3|, being understood t n of the latch members designated generally by the nuw t my b t same m Mich u is meral 42 and shown in detail in the perspective controlled by means of an arm 93 adapted to view Fig. 6. Each latch consists of a U-shaped b engaged b t arm 1 as will be hereinafter member having wings 43, one 01 wh ch i more described. It may be mentioned that switches or less yieldable and may be forced away from si l to 22 controlling other circuits may also the other. The latches 42 are provided with b employed for controlling indicating meehe. the extensions 44 by means of which they may nism or for other Purposes, As mentioned, a be secured to the underside of the board adJasimple circuit arrangement is shown and this cent the end of the slot where the pin or arge only for the one arm, the circuit controllers 82 will stand when ready for play. Each latch is being multiplied, one for each arm, so that reprovided with the cam extension 45 which will. gardless of how many balls. are hit or which engage a link in the chain 33 and normally preones, the device will operate as will be described vent the arm being drawn y the spring 35 to in connection with the single arm.

displace the target. When the target, however, 45 A r t may b closed by closing switch is struck and moved or tilted, the movement of whi h may b tra a follows; u u u the chain 33 tends to spring one or the other of 82, 81, 99, 99 back to the line. A circuit may the wings-.43 to n i releasing the chain 33 also be closed through 94, u, 19,- 1:, II, a and so that the spring 35 will so draw the arm as to 89, either one energizing the motor or breaking move the target along the line of its re pe v the circuit, as the case may be The circuit slot 4| out of the normal playing position and through switches 90 and 92 is the r circuit maintain it there until it is desired to retrieve and may be immediately broken since starting or reset the targets. the motor causes the member 10 to rotate, clos- Ar ans d below t p ay ard I is a bar 1 ing' the circuit through 19 and n and this is having legs 48 pivotally secured to brackets 48' held until 19 has made a complete rotation, at attached to the bottom 5. There are also two which time it is automatically broken. i somewhat similarly formed bars, one 49 having In playing the game, assuming that the tarlegs 49' attached to brackets 50, and the other gets are set up in the position shown in Fig. 1 bar 5| having legs 5| attached to brackets 52 'so that the arms and resetting mechanism are to the bottom 5. The bars 49 and 5i are consubstantially in the positions showns in Figs. 2 nected to the bar 41 by means of the links 53 and 3, a ball Hill is projected down the board I and 54, respectively. When the bar 41 is moved toward the targets. Assuming that it strikes the bars 49 and II are simultaneously moved target ii and knocks it to one side and also fully described hereinafter. The bar 41 is proas previously described and as shown in Fig. 6. vided with the member 55 arranged to coopare released from the latches 42 and under the crate with arm 25, 49 with a bracket 56 artension of the springs 35, arms 2i, 22 and," ranged to cooperate with arm 22, and arm are thrown and moved into positions similar to 5| with brackets 51 and 59 arranged to the arm 25 shown in Fig. 4, with arm 2! encooperate with arms 2| and 23, respectively. gaged in the notch 59 in bracket 51 and arm 22 Ann 24, 26, 21, 2a, 29 and 30 are engaged by in the notch 59 in bracket 58, these three tarand cooperate with the bars 49, 5i and 41, regets then being out of play. The ball I00 rolls spectively during the resetting. The bar 41 may into the alleys I and 9 back to the projector. be moved or manipulated in any desired man- Another ball may then be projected to er, A shown, .the same is provided with a link 7 down further targets or switch '9 closed to retrieve the target to playing position. We will connection 33 is caught. in the latch. As the motor continues to run arm or link 66, through the connector 8'0 and GI, moves the bar 41 to the left, at the same time moving the bars 49 and ii to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This leaves the targets reset and they are substantially as shown in Fig. 2 and held in that position. When the next ball is projected the cycle of operations is repeated. As the aim 2| returns to the position shown in Fig. 3 through the auxiliary arm 83, it'open-s the switch 82 which remains open until the next cycle.

I have found that energy is stored in the springs by the motor or equivalent power and this is suflicient to more than remove the individual targets. It is found that the energy is sufficient to also release one or even more than one subsequent targets. That is to say, the ball need only barely transmit enough energy to an individual target to unlatch it, but this will at times carry on and build up a great chain of energy and release additional targets. To this extent this distinguishes the game from bowling, in which all of the energy must be in the ball,

and this increases the skill arm effect, as it has been demonstrated that a skillful unlatching angle play on one target may bring about unlatching or releasing of additional targets.

In this application, as before mentioned, the projecting mechanism is not shown in detail, since this forms the subject matter of a separate application, as also any mechanisms and circuits for indicating or recording devices.

With the apparatus shown and described, a game of bowling may be played the same as if on the regular full-sized alley and the hits scored in the same manner. It is possible to have strikes, spares and the like with the game apparatus. While the game has been particularly described in connection with bowling, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that features of the same are applicable to other types of games in which a missile is projected along a board to a target. Other types of targets may be employed and the arrangement of the slots defining the path of the targets after being hit need not be laid out in the particular way set forth in the application and as shown in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be'made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned. v

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a board providing a playing surface, said board having a slot through the same, a target slidably mounted on said board at said slot, the slot defining a path of travel of the target, means disposed below the board and operatively connected 7 maintaining the target in" playing position and thereafter automatically moving. the target when played on, out of playing position and operative for returning the target back to playing position.

2. In a game apparatus of the kind described,

a board providing a playing surface, said board Q having a plurality of slots through the same, a plurality of targets slidably mounted on said board at said slots, the slots defining paths of travel of the targets, means disposed below the board and operatively connected to the targets through said slots for releasably maintaining the targets in playing position and after an initial displacement of the target, moving-the target played on out of said playing position and thereafter operative at will for returning the target back to playing position.

3. Ina game apparatus of the kind described, aboard providing a playing field surface, a pinrality of targets slidably mounted on said board thereat, means for positively moving a target played upon in a direction substantially parallel to said playing surface to a position out of the playing field, said means operative to return the same to positions on the playing field, and means for releasably maintaining the targets in said positions.

4. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a board providing a playing surface simulating a bowling alley, targets arranged on a playing field at one end of said board, means normally retaining the targets in playin Position on the playing field and operative after the displacement of a target to move and guide the same laterally over said board from its playing posia board providing a playing surface and simu-' lating a bowling alley, a missile simulating a bowling ball, displaceable targets arranged on said board on a-playlng field, means operative after displacement of a target or targets to move and guide on the board all displaced targets out of initial playing field positions, mechanism for retrieving the said means and returning said targets to their respective positions on the playing field, and means for releasably securing the retrieved targets in their initial playing positions in the playing field.

6. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a board providing a playing surface and simulating a bowling alley, a ball, targets arranged on the face of said board, means automatically operative after the displacement of a target or targets to remove all displaced targets and set them a playing board providing a playing surface, a

plurality of targets mounted on the board and movable thereover, said board constructed to guide the targets during their movement, an arm for each target operatively connected thereto at the lower end of the target for moving the targets across the board into and out of operative position, and means for controlling said arms to v to, the target through said slot for releasably" retrieve a displaced target and return the same to an initial playing position as desired.

8. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a board providing a playing area surface, a missile, a plurality of targets movably mounted on said board and attached thereto at their bases, means for laterally moving a displaced target played upon to a side of the playing area, said means operative to retrieve the same to playing position after the desired number of plays, and means for releasably maintaining the targets in playing position until displaced by the missile or in their displaced position outside the playing area.

9. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a board providing a playing field, a ball movable over the board, a plurality of targets disposed on the surface of said board, actuating means for moving a target played upon and displaced by the ball over the surface and out of the playing field and there resetting them, means operative to restore said actuating means and return the displaced targets to initial playing positions in the playing field, and means for releasably retaining the targets in initial playing positions until displaced in play.

10. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a game board, a target mounted thereon and movable thereover in a predetermined path, an arm movably arranged below the board and operatively connected to said target, flexible means cooperating therewith for detachably securing the base of the target in position on the board in the path of a missile, means for moving the arm and attached target when the target is struck by a missile, and means for retrieving the arm and target after the target has been displaced.

11. In a game apparatus 01' the kind described, a game board simulating a, bowling alley, a plurality of targets mounted thereon and each movable thereover in a defined path, an arm for each target arranged below the board and each operatively connected by flexible means to its respective target, means for engaging said connecting means and releasably maintaining the target in set position, said last mentioned means operative to release the target and arm when the target is struck by a missile, means for automatically actuating the arm when the target is released and moving the target along its respective defined path, and means for moving any arms of any displaced targets to restore the targets to their initial set position.

12. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a game board simulating a bowling alley, a plurality of targets mounted thereon and movable thereover, an arm for each target arranged below the-board, flexible means passing through the board for each arm and target for operatively connecting the arm and target, individual means for catching each target, fiexible means for maintaining the targets in set position and operative to release the target when the target is displaced, individual meansfor each arm for actuating the same when the associated target is released and moving the target from its initial playing position, and means for restoring any displaced arms to return the targets to their set position and reenergizing the arm actuating means. a

'13. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a board providing a field of play, a plurality of targets mounted on the board and movable over the face thereof in a direction parallel thereto, means operative to laterally move a target played upon and displaced, from and to a position on said board without the field of play, said means operative to return all displaced targets and guide them to their respective individual playing positions.

14. In a bowling game apparatus of the kind described, a board providing a field of play, a plurality of targets mounted on the board, said targets movable thereover on the face thereof and parallel thereto within or without a field of play, means for moving a target struck or displaced by the impact of a missile to without the field of play and setting them up thereat, and means operative to retrieve the displaced targets from outside of the field of play to their set up playing positions within the field of play.

IRVEN H. WILSEY. 

